Veepstakes Update, Alaska Governor Edition

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: Republicans '08
• Date: May 30,2008

Recently I listed a number of people who were possible candidates to be John McCain's running mate. One name I did mention was Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. I didn't have a whole to say about her except a mention in passing. Now we hear from the Weekly Standard via Wizbang that the man heading up McCain's search (no, it isn't Dick Cheney) is in Alaska. He probably isn't there on vacation. Palin is currently a hot topic in the blogosphere, see here, here, and here for some examples. From the Standard:

There's only one reason the person heading McCain's search would be there – to meet with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin about the Vice President position.

This comes on the heels of McCain's Memorial Day weekend barbecue attended by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, former White House budget director Rob Portman, and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman. Supposedly that was in informal affair, not a vetting session, but it appears that the VP selection game is very much afoot.

Sarah Palin is a Christian conservative and a budget-cutting fiscal hawk. She is also against "pork barrel" projects, much like McCain. She recently vetoed $269 million in spending, something I sure haven't seen out of Washington in a long, long time. Palin ran in the GOP primary in 2006 against the incumbent Governor Frank Murkowski. Murkowski was always a popular senator there but found troubles when he relocated to Juneau. Palin ran against the corrupt Republican hierarchy of Alaska’s power structure – and won. The Alaskan establishment hates her and the people of her state love her. Her approval ratings at home are consistently in the 80's and higher. Her appeal, unlike that of others who are being talked about, is all about who she is and what she has done in Alaska – not about where she is from.

I think this would be a real gamble – but with a real upside potential. But with any risk, it could backfire. There is no question that McCain is going to try and paint Obama as inexperienced, and rightly so I would add. Adding Palin to the ticket undercuts that argument in my eyes. Palin’s been governor for two years – less time than Obama has used his Senate seat as a springboard for his current activities. I view her as a "swing for the fences" type pick; a pick you make when you feel you are down or maybe close to even in the polls and need something that adds a real spark (kind of like how Mondull picked Ferraro in 1984). We will know quite a bit about where McCain really thinks he stands vs. Obama headed into the election based on this selection. This would be a blatant signal (chosing Palin) to disgruntled to Hillary supporters and no one knows how it would be recieved. Some speculate it may force Obama into taking a woman as well…..

Now, if she could just get rid of Ted Stevens we would be on to something. If the pick is Palin, I would advise McCain to break from tradition and do it ASAP. It forces Obama's hand and if he picks a female it makes him look like he is copying. If he chooses first, say Clinton or Sebelius from Kansas, then some of the appeal is already gone and critics will say we did it just because they did it. As of late, McCain has been able to control the general election campaign, and this would continue it. But McCain typically doesn't take advice from people like me (conservatives). Again, I will not be profiling potential Democrat picks because they will like whoever it is just because Obama picks them and says he/she is the best choice.

When I wrote about Cheney above, I just realized I have not seen him in the news in weeks. I can't remember the last time I saw him anywhere.

Have a good weekend. Liberals included.

Moran Campaign Responds To Widowfield Resignation

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: Local, Scandalous
• Date: May 29,2008

Hudson City Councilman Mike Moran is running for the State House seat being vacated by the ethically challenged John Widowfield. The ethics of Ohio Republicans is what lead to a landslide victory for Democrats in 2006. It looks like John Widowfield is looking for history to repeat itself. The Republican House Caucus will appoint Richard Nero to serve our the remainder of his term. Nero was the candidate the Republicans had nominated to replace Widowfield and run against Moran. The Moran campaign issued the following statement in response to Widowfield's resignation and Nero's appointment:

"I believe this community deserves a new brand of leadership. I am ready to bring integrity and strong representation back to this district,” commented Moran.

“It would be unfortunate if the Republican Party decided to play politics with this open seat,” Moran said. “I would hope that they would follow the lead that Governor Strickland set today and appoint a nonpolitical person to hold the office in the interim until the voters choose a representative in November.”

Well said.

Ahmadinejad, Yes. Petraeus, No.

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: Presidential
• Date: May 29,2008

Earlier this week the McCain Campaign suggested that Barack Obama join the Arizona Senator on a visit to Iraq to get briefed by David Petraeus.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton: "John McCain's proposal is nothing more than a political stunt, and we don't need any more 'Mission Accomplished' banners or walks through Baghdad markets to know that Iraq's leaders have not made the political progress that was the stated purpose of the surge. The American people don't want any more false promises of progress, they deserve a real debate about a war that has overstretched our military, and cost us thousands of lives and hundreds of billions of dollars without making us safer."

Well if you are going to be President in the near future, maybe taking a trip to Iraq is something you should consider – even if it isn't with McCain. Hillary said she would have to clean up Bush's mess and the same would hold true for Obama I would think. I have no doubt that once he wraps up the nomination that Obama (probably with flag pin attached) is going to visit Iraq. Politically though he can not go with McCain. If the surge continues to work and violence keeps going down, it would look bad for his campaign to have him over there with McCain who was an early proponent of the surge sitting right next to him. Obama won't go together because he is afraid of what he might hear. Likely the Illinois Senator learns all he needs to know about the war from his home state colleague Dick "Americans are like Nazis and Pol Pot" Durbin or MSNBC anyhow.

Very shrewd political move by McCain here. I also think McCain was probably serious with the offer and wanted the two candidates to go to Iraq as a show of American strength and resolve. By the way, if I was Hillary Clinton I would be all over this, and say it was a great idea and try to get in on the action.

So as we stand now, Obama is willing to meet with Ahmadinenjad and any other nut job leader but not David Petraeus (though he has now been baited into "considering" going solo). How noble of a potential CIC to consider visiting. But Obama already knows Iraq is a "complete failure," so I would say he probably doesn't even need to go over there. Plus he might have to miss church. But if indeed Obama does go over, I know someone who can drive him around in a tank.

(I am not saying I am an expert on Iraq. I am certainly not. This post is from a purely political horserace point of view).

Unrelated good links: Right Runner suggests Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for McCain's running mate. I left a comment on the post and was skeptical that it would be a good one, though I see the angle the post is going for.

Keane Observations: Cut Obama some slack, key word "some."

Michigan raises taxes and predictable results follow, says Bizzy Blog. When will that state learn? Probably when they stop electing every Democrat possible.

Widowfield Out, Arshinkoff Shockingly Blunders Again

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: Arshinkoff / Coughlin, Local
• Date: May 28,2008

(Now Updated, 12:15 PM, Friday, see end of post)

The Beacon broke it:

State Rep. John Widowfield, R-Cuyahoga Falls, is expected to resign from his legislative seat following accusations that he purchased Ohio State University football tickets with campaign funds and sold them for a profit.

Widowfield did not return multiple phone calls seeking comment Tuesday and today. He signed for gas mileage reimbursement for the week and attended a committee hearing in the morning, but was not at the House session in the afternoon.

Sources told the Beacon Journal that Widowfield sold the football tickets over the Internet for more than their face value, and pocketed the profits.

Score another one for Alex Arshinkoff. Arshinkoff got Widowfield to run against the only Republican on Summit County Council, Louise Heydorn, in the March primary. Widowfield won. That decision looks real good right about now, huh? It never really did. Way to mount a serious challenge against the only elected Republican on Council and let the Democrats go without serious competetion. Let the winning ways continue! For Democrats and Ohio State Buckeyes that is. To tie this in to Ohio State, Arshinkoff is like Lloyd Carr, the former Michigan football coach; both of their glory days were long ago and now they just get stomped on by their rivals. Except Carr is supposedly a nice guy. And Carr knew when his time was up.

Pho and TBMD are on the story as well. You may also remember the disgusting late tactics used by Widowfield and Don Robart the day before the Coughlin/Klinger – Arshinkoff battle for the Chairmanship. If you missed that, then you should look at it now. No word yet on whether Widowfield will still be allowed to wear his "Big Al is My Pal" sticker that were being handed out that fateful night at Tangier when Summit County Republicans decided in overwhelming numbers to keep the pitiful status quo.

Is this the end of the world? No. I have scalped tickets before and sold them on the internet, though I didn't use campaign funds to buy them. Ohio politicans have done worse for sure (see Dann, Marc), but this is just a bad choice Widowfield made. And thanks to it and the wisdom of the county GOP chair, Republicans are probably going to have zero seats on Summit County Council. Outstanding.

Update: Widowfield bows out of Council race.

Excerpt: Summit County Republican Party Chairman Alex Arshinkoff said Widowfield told him a few weeks ago that he planned to drop out because of his new private-sector job.

"I don't know if this is going to hurry it up or not," Arshinkoff said, referring to Widowfield's resignation and allegations that he profited from the sale of Ohio State State University football tickets purchased with campaign funds. "These are all decisions Mr. Widowfield has to make. He will let us know."

I mean, really? I agree with Pho (again). You have Widowfield knock off Heydorn, using a lot of party resources, then he decides he isn't going to run again, but no one says anything? If Alex is really all about party unity and bringing everyone back together, Heydorn will be back on the ballot to try and defend her seat.

Dispatch says state lawmakers were warned about selling tickets.

Strickland appoints Nancy Hardin Rodgers to be A.G.

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: Ohio Government
• Date: May 28,2008

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced this morning that he has appointed Ohio State School of Law Professor Nancy Hardin Rodgers to be the interim Attorney General of the State of Ohio. Rodgers will serve out the remaining term until the special election in November. I think it was smart for Governor Strickland not to make a partisan appointment to the position and to allow an open seat race to replace Dann. It is another reflection of the new tone Governor Strickland has brought to Columbus.

I don't agree with what Kyle wrote here. See the first comment.

Gotta Love The Heart Of Bill O'Neill

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: Congress, Local
• Date: May 28,2008

O'Neill Runs Race: On March 11, 2008, Bill O'Neill (bib #1503) had triple bypass heart surgery. The surgery took Bill off the campaign trail and left some questioning what it would mean for his congressional campaign. This past weekend and 75 days after surgery, Bill put to rest any doubt in his physical capacity when he ran the 5.25 mile Motorcars Cherry Blossom Time Run in Chagrin Falls. Congratulations to Judge O'Neill on this accomplishment and for sending a clear message that the candidate and campaign are running strong.

LaTourette Runs From Vote: The O'Neill campaign has also been making news on the campaign trail. Last week, Republican incumbent Steve LaTourette voted "present" on the emergency supplemental funding bill for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. LaTourette joined a list of Ohio Republicans who opted to vote present on the bill. O'Neill, a veteran of the War in Vietnam, issued the following statement on the vote: “This refusal to take a stand shows just how much Washington really has changed him [LaTourette] in the last 14 years. Our troops are putting their lives on the line for this country and the people of Northeast Ohio deserve an up or down vote, sir.”

It is pretty clear the American people no longer want our troops to be present in Iraq. Hopefully the voters of Ohio's 14th are ready to elect a Congressman like Bill O'Neill who agrees.

O'Neill Race Targeted: The O'Neill campaign has been selected for the Red to Blue program from the Democratic fundraising site Act Blue. Ohio's 14th leans Republican, but is the kind of place district Democrats will be looking to pick up this fall.